Rebecca Branconi, Ph.D., is an Academic Affiliate of Biology at Pennsylvania State University, a Biology Professor at Kent State University Florence and a professional naturalistic and scientific Illustrator. Branconi earned her undergraduate degree in General Biology and her master degree in Animal Behavior at the University of Florence. In 2011, she earned her Ph.D. in Ethology, Ecology and Evolution at Boston University, USA. Her academic experience includes journal articles, conference/seminar presentations, and several mentoring activities. Her research interests include marine behavioral ecology and evolutionary biology. More specifically, her main field of study is the formation, maintenance and transformation of animal social groups. Among her publications are: spatial autocorrelation in three habitat quality indicators sets the stage for evolution of adaptive dispersal plasticity in a coral reef fish (2023, Coral Reefs); social evolution in anemonefishes: formation, maintenance, and transformation of social groups (2022, In: Evolution, Development, and Ecology of Anemonefishes: Model Organisms for Marine Science); the next frontier in understanding the evolution of coral reef fish societies (2021, Frontiers in Marine Science); negotiations over parental care: a test of alternative hypotheses in the clown anemonefish (2021, Behavioral Ecology); ecological and social constraints combine to promote evolution of non-breeding strategies in clownfish (2020, Communications Biology); sensory cues underlying competitive growth in the clown anemonefish (2020, Behavioural Processes). Currently, she teaches “Scientific Inquiry and Observation of the Natural World” at Kent State University Florence and “Function and Development of Organisms” and “Environmental Marine Biology & Sustainability” at Pennsylvania State University.